Thai police arrest British drug smuggling suspect

BANGKOK (AP) — Thai police have arrested an Englishman whom French police accuse of masterminding a gang that sought to smuggle cocaine and heroin through France into England six years ago.

Immigration police chief Lt. Gen. Panu Kerdlarppol said Michael Alan France, 53, was arrested Wednesday in the seaside resort town of Cha-Am, where he had purchased a luxury condominium after fleeing to Thailand in 2008.

He said France fled after customs officers in northern France arrested a group of Englishmen with 28.55 kilograms (57.1 pounds) of cocaine and 95.11 kilograms (43.23 pounds) of heroin in their car. French authorities said the suspect had hired the men to smuggle several shipments of drugs.

France said at a police news conference that he had been unaware of the allegations against him.